title: [Congenital cytomegalovirus infection].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most frequent cause of intrauterine infection and an important cause of auditory system damage and mental retardation in humans. Clinical presentation varies from asymptomatic form to lethal systemic dissemination.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe clinical and laboratories manifestations, age at the moment of diagnostic, treatment and diagnostic test used in congenital cytomegalovirus infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational, retrospective and descriptive study. Clinical histories of congenital CMV infected infants evaluated by Infectology Department of the Hospital General de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez between January 2002 and December 2006 were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients were evaluated. Mean age at diagnosis was 2.6 months. The most frequent symptom/sign were hepato-splenomegaly (76 %), jaundice (47 %), petechiae and hearing deficit (41 %). Anemia (53 %) and thrombocytopenia (40 %) were the most common laboratory abnormalities. Diagnosis was made exclusively by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-CMV in one third of the patients, whereas one third was diagnosed by serology and the other third for both test. Five patients received ganciclovir as treatment. Only one had neutropenia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Differential diagnosis of all newborns with hepatoesplenomegaly, jaundice and petechiae and anemia and/or thrombocytopenia must include congenital cytomegalo-virus infection. Early diagnosis allows a prompt intervention and a strict audiological follow up.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Infectología, Hospital General de Niños Dr. Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina. drgomila@gmail.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gomila
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: López
mesh_terms: D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies